It is rare for Gambians to take to the streets and show their disapproval of the government.

President Yahya Jammeh has ruled the small West African nation for more than twenty years. And he’s a leader known to be intolerant of dissent.

But his government’s reaction to a protest held a week ago has outraged Gambians. Dozens of opposition activists were arrested. One of them, Solo Sandeng, Secretary of the opposition United Democratic Party, is thought to have been killed while in police custody.

The government says the demonstrations were held illegally.

So, as Gambians prepare to head to the polls later this year – We ask: what’s causing the unrest?